VIDEO + QUOTES: 2026 4-Star Wing Cole Cloer's Commitment To NC State

Miss IMG Academy (FL) four-star wing Cole Cloer‍ announcing his decision to NC State?  Here is your chance to watch it as it was streamed by Inside Pack Sports!

NOTE: Click above to watch the announcement!

Opening Statement… 

First of all, I just want to thank all of y'all for being here. Obviously, it's a big day for me and my family. It's something we've worked very hard for over the course of the last 10 years. So, North Carolina is home. It always has been home. So, with all that being said… Go Pack Baby! Let's go! 

What was the biggest factor in your decision for you? 

I mean, the coaching staff here is second to none. They're an elite staff, they’re in the best conference in the country. It's all the way back to that. NC State is on the way back to where it should be. 

The “red reckoning” with Coach Wade is something that everybody in the state of North Carolina wants to see. It's going to make noise across the country. It's going to wake a lot of people up. I think the goal for me has always been to be a pro basketball player. 

So, I think just lining this school up compared to the other four schools, this is the place for me. I love home. I love all of y'all here. All of ya’ll played a part in that so. 

We have to know, what was Coach Wade's reaction when you let him know?

I mean, he was hyped. The first thing he said was, Go Pack! Let's go! I feel like that says a lot. He's all NC State. I feel like he knew at the time anyway. My relationship with him compared to all the coaches was a little different. They kind of slipped right off the bat. So, I feel like he kind of saw it coming. 

I know you took several visits, and NC State was one of them. Do you know when you finalized your decision? When did you know?

So, like, 13 days ago is when I decided, because I think I was in Dubai at that time. And that was when I decided. 

Obviously, Duke and North Carolina kind of run the triangle as a late. As a local kid, what does it mean to come to NC State and give the program a chance to be on top?

I mean, yeah. Duke and North Carolina have run it for the last little bit. But before that, it was NC State. I think NC State has gone straight back to that. We don't see Duke and North Carolina as anything other than another ACC game that we're supposed to win. They're not any better than we are. We're going in with the same mindset. Let's be number one in the ACC. 

Cole, a lot of people are familiar with your name. How would you describe your game? Tell us the strengths to your game. 

I think it's versatility. I feel like I can do anything on the basketball court. It's kind of always been a thing growing up. I've never tried to specialize in anything. Growing up, I've always watched the best players in the NBA. Trying to stay a little bit smarter. 

I feel like I can score the ball at the highest level. I feel like I can facilitate. I feel like I can play 1 through 3, 1 through 4. I think defensively, I can guard 1 through 5. Push the ball, shoot the ball. I just feel like I bring all of the basketball players to the program. 

On growing up being a NC State fan and what it now means to be committed to NC State… 

I mean, it's a dream come true. This is something you always kind of fantasize about as a kid. Just playing for your hometown. Playing against the Dukes, playing against the Carolinas, playing in the ACC. As a little kid, I was screaming like, you're living the dream, you know what I mean? 

You took a visit at the end of the year. We've been around the program. What do you think of NC State's campus and facilities? 

I mean, the campus is home. I grew up in North Carolina. I grew up 40 minutes away from Raleigh. So, this is no different than where I live in Hillsborough. So, I mean, it's very comfortable here. The facilities are great. You can't ask for anything better. Great practice facilities. Great weight room. I mean, you don't feel like you're by yourself here. 

Cole said he grew up in Hillsborough, North Carolina. State played today. They had a linebacker that played. He grew up in Hillsborough... Payton Wilson. Familiar with the family? Any connections? I know he went to Orange as well. 

Yeah. Hey, it's a great family friend. I've got two of my brothers right here. They grew up with him... played football with him. Going to Orange, where I was in my first two years. Where they went. Where my sister went. So, we've known him... I mean, great family. I mean, great football player. Doing his thing in Pittsburgh. Doing his thing here in Raleigh.

I talk to him a lot about, kind of, NC State and what he thought about it. Because he had the same thing for football. He took it all over the country. But he took his family home as well. So, we have great relationships. 

You've taken visits. You went through the process. A bunch of different head coaches. How tough was it to let them know that you weren't going? 

Yeah, it's a tough decision, of course. Like, I mean, all those programs are top of the line. We got people to fall for last year. We got national champions. We have everybody we want. I mean, it's a tough decision, of course.

It feels good to be done. Like, it feels like there's a weight off your back, of course. You know, to buy NC State. You don't buy anything anymore. You can open it. You can talk trash to your friends. You can rep your school. Yeah, so it feels great.